Disney passholders get early look at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom reopening

ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney World is making its final preparations at two of its parks before its special passholder preview kicks off Thursday.

Disney’s official reopening of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will be Saturday, but some annual passholders got access to the parks on Thursday, and the previews continue on Friday.

The early opening will give crew members an opportunity to get used to the all the new safety precautions they have in place such as social distancing, temperature checks and the face mask requirement.

Read: Walt Disney World releases list of safety precautions ahead of reopening

Face coverings are now required, and character meet and greets will be at a distance. Announcements and new equipment such as hand sanitizer stations and barriers can be found throughout the parks.

“They have hand sanitizer throughout the queue. Also before and after you get off,” said Shelley Caran, who runs the blog On the Go in the MCO.

See a photo gallery of Disney’s new safety precautions here.

Joe Collier lives in Michigan but was planning a visit to Disney Florida for Disney. Eyewitness News caught up with him in June when Universal Studios reopened. He was in Central Florida last week too when cases daily cases more than doubled.

“We got a bit more uncomfortable, and that’s why we’re thinking about pushing back our August trip,” . Because a 11,000 people a day is a lot,” Collier said.

The U.S. Travel Association estimates travel spending nationwide will drop to 45% by the end of the year.

Collier said he felt more safe at theme parks than he did at a Florida grocery store, where he walked in then immediately turned around.

But even Disney magic doesn’t blind him to the severity of the pandemic.

“I think there’s more people (who will) hold off until things are more under control, until maybe there’s a vaccine,” he said.

Guests now also also have the chance to get tickets and book stays at certain Disney resorts Thursday. Read more here.

EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are scheduled to reopen July 15.

Disney officials said they’ll have cast members at the park explaining the new guidelines to people and encouraging everyone to follow them.

Cox Media Group